1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to withdraw our state from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit, which directly attacks Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and threatens the fundamental rights of people with disabilities to live and participate in their communities. Texas and eight other states are currently challenging Section 504, a landmark civil rights law that has protected people with disabilities from discrimination for decades. This lawsuit seeks to undermine the legal foundation that enables disabled individuals to access community-based services, education, healthcare, and housing rather than being forced into institutional settings. Section 504 ensures that people with disabilities can live with dignity and independence in their own communities. The protections it provides are not optional accommodations but essential civil rights. Weakening or eliminating these protections would force many disabled individuals into segregated, institutional care against their will, separating them from their families, friends, and communities. The impact of this lawsuit extends far beyond legal theory. Real people in our state depend on Section 504 protections to access critical services including special education for students, Medicaid-funded community supports, accessible healthcare through the Affordable Care Act, and housing assistance. Removing these protections would devastate countless families and reverse decades of progress toward inclusion and equality. I strongly urge you to withdraw our state from this harmful lawsuit immediately. Attacking the civil rights of people with disabilities is not consistent with our values as a state. Instead of spending taxpayer resources on litigation that seeks to strip away fundamental rights, we should be working to strengthen community-based services and ensure all residents can live with independence and dignity. People with disabilities deserve the same opportunities as everyone else to live, work, and participate fully in community life. I ask that you take immediate action to end our state's participation in Texas v. Kennedy and reaffirm your commitment to protecting the rights of all constituents.